MOSTACCIOLI

Mostaccioli, or 'mustazzueli' in the Brindisi dialect, are typical Christmas biscuits, particularly popular in the province of Brindisi. There are many variations of mostaccioli, just as there are many places where they are made. The main difference is the texture, which can be soft or hard: soft mostaccioli are filled with delicious jam; hard mostaccioli can be covered with icing or dark chocolate, and even in this case they can be filled with sweet jam. The dough can also be enriched with cocoa and dried fruit to give it a special flavour. A typical Brindisi recipe has them garnished with almonds and dipped in coffee.